Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies [Paperback]

Nancy C. Muir (Author), Linda Criddle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470457457 | ISBN-13: 978-0470457450 | Publication Date: March 30, 2009 | Edition: 1

The Internet is amazing, but the risks you’ve heard about are real, too. You can avoid being a victim of online crime with the simple steps for staying safe online that you’ll find in Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies.

Here’s the guide you need to steer safely through the hazards so you can shop, visit, invest, explore, pay bills, and do dozens of other things online — more securely. Learn to protect yourself from online predators, create strong passwords, find reliable information, spot e-mail and phishing scams, and much more.

• Find out how to share photos and videos, chat with others, and participate in online discussions—securely
• See how, with strong passwords and reasonable caution, online banking and bill-paying might be safer than the old way
• Learn to install and set up a browser, use search engines effectively, and sidestep suspicious ads
• Discover how personal information is collected and used by legitimate companies — and by crooks
• Be able to spot risks, find out how online criminals think, and know what makes you vulnerable
• Enjoy social networking sites without putting yourself at risk
• Spot reputable healthcare sites and avoid medical ID theft and scams

There’s even a glossary of common computer terms and a guide to your rights when using the Internet. Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies helps you feel more secure by showing you how to protect yourself while enjoying the Web.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Protect your privacy and use the Internet more securely with advice from safety experts

Isn't the Internet amazing? But oh, the risks you've heard about - online identity theft, e-mail scams trying to separate you from your bank accounts, phony medical information, and more. Here's the guide you need to steer through the hazards with confidence, so you can shop, visit, invest, explore, pay bills, and do dozens of other things online - more securely.

• Have fun - find out how to share photos and videos, chat with others, and participate in online discussions - safely
• Choose passwords with muscle - they don't have to be hard to remember, just hard to guess
• Keep your information to yourself - see how personal info is collected and used by legitimate companies - and crooks
• Safely surfin' - follow these tips to set up a browser, use search engines effectively, and sidestep suspicious ads
• Protect your pocket - with strong passwords and reasonable caution, online banking and bill-paying might be safer than using your neighborhood bank
• Stay healthier with online advice - discover how to spot reputable healthcare sites and avoid medical ID theft and scams
• Learn how to spot online risks - discover how online criminals think, how to recognize risks, and how seniors can become safer online

Open the book and find:

• The tools you need to protect your computer from viruses
• A guide to your rights when using the Internet
• How you can help keep your grandchildren safer online
• A glossary of common computer terms
• Ways to find movies, games, and music to enjoy online
• How to use social networking sites safely
• Surprising ways your personal information can be stolen

About the Author

Linda Criddle is an internationally recognized Internet safety and technology expert and President of Lookbothways Inc., which develops online safety curriculum and software. Nancy C. Muir has written more than 40 books on technologyand is the Director of Content Development for Lookbothways. Learn more at www.ilookbothways.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470457457
• ISBN-13: 978-0470457450
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Culture > Privacy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it at your computer for best results, April 30, 2009

By 

J. D. Criddle (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies (Paperback)

Move over seniors! This book is useful for any age. It offers specific helps and walks the internet user through the process so that you feel comfortable with each new topic. I find it works best to sit in front of my computer and practice what I read to solidify each suggestion. My only complaint is that the writing in the examples is too small and grayed. Working at the computer solves this problem, since I can now see it full screen.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I sent this to my Mom and Dad., April 20, 2009

By 

Elaine Scott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies (Paperback)

I consult to businesses about online safety and one of the biggest customer communication challenges has always been how to educate people about being safe online without scaring or boring them. This book does a great job of achieving that balance. Statistically, senior internet users are more likely to be targeted by online fraudsters/scammers for a variety of reasons. What the authors do is describe the many situations that can lead to trouble and the relatively simple (and intuitive) ways to avoid it. The book covers online dating, online gaming, social networking, sharing pictures, sharing personal information, using email, using financial sites, talking to the grandkids about staying safe online, etc. What it drove home to me is that there are more minefields out there than we care to imagine and that when mistakes happen, they can be very serious. As such, I ended up buying a copy of the book for my parents because they are frequent online users, they are only aware of potential online pitfalls at a cursory level, and like many other seniors, if something were to go wrong, I would not be first on their list to call.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for seniors and anyone who uses the Internet, March 31, 2009

By 

D. Milstein (WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies (Paperback)

I found this book to be a great resource not only for seniors but also for anyone who is concerned about online safety. I liked the writing style and found the explanations to be straight forward and informative.
I also liked that the book has many illustrations and screen shots, which make it much easier to understand.